Seeking Justice and Accountability: The Tragic Case of Sary Mao, Whose Body Went Undiscovered for 5 Days at Montefiore’s Family Health Center

The family of Sary Mao, a Khmer-speaking Cambodian refugee, is seeking justice and closure after her body went undiscovered for five days following her tragic death due to a heart attack. The incident occurred at Montefiore’s Family Health Center in The Bronx, NYC.

As medical malpractice attorneys, our professional focus is on advocating for individuals suffering from medical negligence. The recent incident at Montefiore’s Family Health Center in The Bronx, where the body of Sary Mao went undiscovered for five days following her heart attack, resonates deeply with the issues we encounter in our work

In any medical malpractice case, the concept of the “duty of care” is fundamental

Healthcare providers, including hospitals and clinics like Montefiore, have a legal obligation to provide competent and appropriate care to their patients. When this duty is breached, often by deviating from accepted standards of care, it can lead to catastrophic consequences for patients. Sary Mao’s case raises concerns about the duty of care at Montefiore’s Family Health Center. Her tragic death due to a heart attack while navigating the clinic’s stairwell demands a thorough investigation into whether the clinic upheld its duty of care.

One of the crucial aspects of a medical malpractice case is the need for transparency and accountability. In this case, the hospital’s response, citing federal privacy laws and decency as reasons for not commenting on Sary Mao’s death, raises questions about accountability. When a patient suffers harm under a healthcare provider’s care, it is not only a matter of medical responsibility but also a legal one. Sary Mao’s family’s frustration at the lack of honest explanations is understandable. Transparency is vital not only for the grieving family but also for ensuring that similar incidents do not occur in the future.

While the stairwell was marked as an “emergency exit,” it was labeled only in English. Many patients at the clinic primarily speak little or no English, which raises concerns about whether language barriers played a role in the delay in discovering Sary Mao’s body.

Seeking Justice for Victims

The rallying cry of Sary Mao’s family and the community for justice is a sentiment we wholeheartedly support. Medical malpractice cases are not merely about financial compensation but also about holding healthcare providers accountable for their actions and advocating for improved patient safety.

Our role as medical malpractice attorneys is to guide victims and their families through the legal process, seeking justice, and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable. Together, we can work to improve the healthcare system, prevent future incidents, and protect the rights of patients.